The rusting cab of Denver & Rio Grande Western GP30 engine 3011 sits near the museum's restoration roundhouse awaiting the day when she will be brought back to life again. Photo: Christopher May |
EMD GP30 illustration by Tom Fawell |
The rusting cab of Denver & Rio Grande Western GP30 engine 3011 sits near the museum's restoration roundhouse awaiting the day when she will be brought back to life again. Photo: Christopher May |
EMD GP30 illustration by Tom Fawell |
Very little could seem to have changed from this sunset over Boreas Pass to the time when the first steam whistles echoed over the Blue River Valley. Photo: Christopher J. May |
D&RGW #683, the only standard gauge Rio Grande steam engine known to survive is preserved at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, Colorado. The first outdoor exhibit most encounter at the museum, the engine is quite popular with the young (and young at heart) who want to ring the engine's bell. Photo: Christopher J. May |
Robert LeMassena photo by Matt Isaacks |
Bob left us a great deal of his amassed knowledge through his books - the most notable to most Rio Grande fans being "Rio Grande... to the Pacific!" RGTTP is an invaluable piece of work, and is still my go-to reference for the Grande's often convoluted historical timeline.Holmes also speculated that the Colorado Railroad Museum will have a memorial event of some kind in the near future.
Colorado's cities (red) and railroads (dashed lines). Quick and ugly map created on nationalatlas.gov The northern half of the Front Range Urban Corridor is highlighted. |
The track at South Colorado Springs, Colorado is out of service due to washout. South Colorado Springs, Colorado is approximately 72 miles south of Denver, Colorado. The main track is expected to return to service later this evening, Friday, September 13, 2013.
The tracks at Boulder, Colorado and Loveland, Colorado are out of service due to multiple washouts. Boulder, Colorado is approximately 30 miles northwest of Denver, Colorado, and Loveland, Colorado is approximately 52 miles north of Denver, Colorado. No estimated return to service has been issued yet. Customers between Broomfield, Colorado, and Dixon, Colorado, will not be serviced until track is restored.
Fall colors on Kebler Pass 2012 Photo by Aakash sahai, CCL3.0 |
Gazette.com photo by Michael Ciaglo |
This is part of the Rock Island railroad that once ran between downtown Colorado Springs and Chicago. Recently, the tracks have been intact as far as Limon. I think it is very short sighted that they were not saved at least as far as Falcon. With all the residential development in the Falcon area, this would have made the perfect commuter rail line, connecting a developing residential area to downtown. Instead we will add yet more lanes to Woodmen or Constitution.Indeed it would make the perfect commuter line! The entire north and east sides of Colorado Springs residents would benefit. Instead of routing traffic to US 24 and forcing more commuters to sit in their cars and travel a longer route, Colorado Springs could keep this line and implement light rail or commuter rail at a fraction of what Denver would have to pay for right-of-way acquisition. What are the civic leaders of Colorado Springs thinking? Is it really time to eat the seed you saved for planting?
Saturday, August 10th is the once a year roll-out for Denver & Intermountain R.R. Co. Interurban trolley #25 and I will be on board as an operator throughout the day.
This Interurban trolley was built in Denver, CO in 1911 by the Woeber Carriage Co. Being an Interurban trolley it had a top speed of 70mph. It is the only original Denver trolley lo still in existence. It was pulled out of the Colorado Railroad Museum by the Rocky Mountain RR Club and moved to the Denver Federal Center for complete restoration. After many, many, many volunteer hours, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations, this trolley has been restored to its original 1911 appearance. The trolley is just about finished with only some minor things to tinker with as time permits. It has been 20+ years of hard dedicated work to get this far. For now the trolley is operational on a 1/4 mile section of track at the Denver Federal Center and is stored inside on Federal Center property. It is interesting to note that the track it operates on today is the same track it operated on over 60 years ago.
The #25 is now owned by the City of Lakewood, CO. Operators are provided by the Denver Tramway Heritage Society which owns and operates breezer trolley replica #1977 along the South Platte River.
Saturday's event is open to the public from 10am-2pm. Rides on the #25 are free, donations are welcome. The Denver Federal Center is located at 6th Ave. & Kipling St. in Lakewood, Colorado. Enter at gate #1 off of Kipling St. through the Visitor Gate. Everyone entering the Federal Center property will have to show an I.D. to the guard. Once inside, follow the road to the stop sign and turn right. Signs will point you to the trolley event.
We hope you can join us for a trip back in time on the Denver & Intermountain Interurban trolley #25!